The Australian Open’s inaugural formal opening ceremony featured Roger Federer, who played in an exhibition doubles match with Andre Agassi and Ash Barty against Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt. The event, held in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, also included performances by Crowded House and the presence of tennis legend Rod Laver. Federer, returning to Australia for the first time since 2021, expressed gratitude towards previous generations of players. The main singles competitions begin Sunday, with Novak Djokovic set to play his first match on Monday.
